Middlemarch by George Eliot
Set in the fictitious English town of Middlemarch during the early 19th century, the novel explores the complex web of relationships in a close-knit society. It follows the lives of several characters, primarily Dorothea Brooke, a young woman of idealistic fervor, and Tertius Lydgate, an ambitious young doctor, who both grapple with societal expectations, personal desires, and moral dilemmas. Their stories intertwine with a rich tapestry of other townsfolk, reflecting themes of love, marriage, ambition, and reform, making a profound commentary on the human condition.
The 25th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 3536
This book was first published in 1871
54 Lists
- score: 236 -- The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time - 2007 (Weight: 200)
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- score: 160 -- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers - 2006 (Weight: 160)
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- score: 148 -- The Guardian's Essential Library - 2002 (Weight: 140)
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- score: 42 -- Landmarks of World Literature - 2012 (Weight: 40)
- score: 42 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 40)
- score: 40 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 40)
- score: 40 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 40)
- score: 23 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 20)
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- score: 21 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 20)
- score: 20 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 20)
- score: 20 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 20)
- score: 1 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top 50 Books - 1997 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors - 2021 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- #ThisBook - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 110 Best Books: The Perfect Library - 2008 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Best Classics - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
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